Want glossy, healthy hair now? Book yourself one of these in-salon innovations, pronto.
1. The Strand Smoother
Charcoal Smoothing Therapy, from $300; perfect-hair.com.au
Best For: Taming frizz and flyaways.
The Benefits: A blend of charcoal extract and amino acids promise to smooth hair, restore resilience and fight frizz. Suitable for all types (coloured, permed, highlighted or bleached), it naturally fades away after approximately 15 washes.
WE SAY: “It was obvious this formula contained no nasty chemicals. My hair felt smoother, but the three days that followed were trying – no elastics or washing. However, once I washed my hair, it looked noticeably shinier with less frizz.”
2. The Healthy Hair Fix
Wella System Professional EnergyCode Mapping, from $42; 1300 885 002
Best For: Re-energising dull, damaged hair.
The Benefits: Inspired by skincare, this customised program uses an in-salon app to examine hair from root to tip, and then diagnose your hair’s unique “energy profile” to determine its needs. A care-coded system is prescribed (comprised of vitamin B, caffeine, histidine and natural lipids), including an indulgent mask, dry-in treatment or rinse-out ritual, to help transform hair.
WE SAY: “After a summer spent at the beach and pool, my hair was looking dry and limp (plus I was guilty of disguising it with messy buns and ponytails). Post-treatment, my hair is healthier, more manageable and flowing freely again.”
3. The Scalp Stimulator
Aveda Pramāsana Treatment, from $40; aveda.com.au
Best For: Sensitive scalps.
The Benefits: Looking after the skin on your scalp like the skin on your face is the aim of this treatment, devised to cleanse and balance the skin. To start the ritual, a specially designed brush with loop bristles is run through dry hair to dislodge product build-up and dead skin cells and increase micro-circulation. Next, a cleanser is massaged into the roots, before a regular shampoo is applied and everything is rinsed off. Then it’s a conditioning mask and a dose of the Pramāsana Scalp Concentrate, which helps protect the scalp and ward off free radicals.
WE SAY: “My scalp has never felt so tingly or thoroughly cleansed. It cleared my flakiness problem, and left my fine strands feeling lighter than usual. It was a good add-on treatment to a regular salon blow-dry.”
4. The Colour Saver
L’Oréal Professional Smartbond, from $35; 1300 651 991
Best For: Those who frequent the colourist.
The Benefits: Formulas have improved, but there’s still no such thing as zero-damage hair colour (it’s drying and can weaken keratin). In comes Smartbond, an ingredient added to colour by a hairdresser and sealed into strands with a rebonder at the basin, leaving hair stronger and glossier.
WE SAY: “Being a long-time bleacher, my hair can be brittle if I don’t treat it regularly. Since this treatment it’s been noticeably softer, the ends seem stronger and it takes less time to blow-dry.
5. The Blonde Booster
Joico Brightening System, from $50; joico.com.au
Best For: The blonde brigade.
The Benefits: Brassiness, off-tones, fading and damage are concerns for bottled blondes. Enter a three-step, blonde-specific brightening system. The combination of powerful hair healers like arginine (to strengthen), monoi and tamanu oils (to protect), and natural detoxifiers (to remove brassy tones) bring life back to lighter lengths.
WE SAY: “For the amount of time this took – which wasn’t much time at all – this treatment was an easy way to get my blonde freshened up and feeling silky. It left my tresses lightweight and bright.”
6. The Dehydration Detox
shu uemura Art of Hair Ceremony, from $40; 1300 651 991
Best For: Lacklustre locks.
The Benefits: The treatment begins with a shiatsu scalp massage, which benefits both the head and hair. But that’s just the tip of the follicle: the ceremony is a sensory experience, starting with a cup of tea, bespoke mask (tailored to your hair type) and finishing with another head massage and treatment oil.
WE SAY: “Not only did I feel thoroughly restored but my strands felt revamped and cleansed.”
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